Sharapova To Serve As Olympics Correspondent

As if tennis superstar, fashion icon and candy mogul wasn't enough to keep Maria Sharapova busy, she will soon be adding another item to her resume: Correspondent at the Olympics.

Sharapova and NBC announced this week that the 26-year-old will help the network with its coverage of the first Winter Olympics in her native Russia. Sharapova, who served as Russia's flag bearer at the 2012 London Olympics, lived in Sochi for a few years as a child.

"I'm thrilled to be joining the NBC family for this year's Olympic Games in my hometown of Sochi," Sharapova said in a statement to E! News. "The Olympic experience is unlike anything else, and as a past Olympian it means even more to me for the Games to be hosted in such a remarkable place. Sochi has such a rich history and culture, and I'm excited that it will now hold a place in so many athletes' hearts from all over the world."

Sharapova, the fourth-ranked tennis player in the world, has been highly successful in her off-the-court ventures. Her Maria Sharapova Collection, which includes shoes and accessories, as well as her Sugarpova line of candies are just part of her incredible business portfolio. All told, her $27 million earnings last year made her the world's highest paid female athlete.

A right shoulder injury has plagued Sharapova the past few months and forced her to pull out of the U.S. Open. Should she play in the Australian Open, she'll have a very busy winter with that tournament starting on Jan. 13 and the Winter Olympics kicking off Feb. 7.